While Rhodesian ridgebacks were historically bred to hunt lions, Tank is anything but a vicious attack dog.

“He’s such a goofball,” says his owner, Katherine Schwartz, 24, who works in fashion marketing.

The 93-pound pooch lives on the Upper West Side with Schwartz and her law-student boyfriend, Piergiorgio Maselli, 24, and is known for being a big sweetie pie with younger, smaller puppies in their apartment building.

“He’s trained to kind of lay down when he sees a smaller dog,” coos Schwartz. “He will let them jump all over him.”

Tank is a voracious athlete, regularly accompanying Schwartz on bike rides or jogging with Maselli several times a week to keep fit for the show ring. He also loves getting out of the city to his family’s house in the Hamptons or hiking around Chappaqua.

Just 2 years old, Tank has already earned enough points on the show circuit for a grand champion title. Schwartz, a former equestrian, will be handling Tank herself at Westminster. “I’m very excited but nervous at the same time,” she says. “I’ve been a spectator for so many years, I can’t wait to finally be an exhibitor!”

THE MAN ABOUT MIDTOWN

Grand champion Matterhorn’s Oscar the Grouch CGC, a k a “Oscar”

Attention follows this 2 ¹/₂-year-old Greater Swiss Mountain dog wherever he goes, and how could it not — he weighs 125 pounds and is prone to wearing argyle sweaters around town and dressing up for the holidays.

“I caused a mini riot when I brought him [dressed] as Santa Claus to Rockefeller Center,” says owner David Moskowitz, 30, who shares his Midtown apartment, and occasionally his bed, with the massive pooch.

At least when he’s not traveling the show circuit: Oscar just returned from a string of seven shows in Florida with a handler, and won seven Best of Breed awards. (By the way, the “CGC” after Oscar and Tank’s names stands for Canine Good Citizen, a title they earned for passing a manners test.)

Moskowitz originally tried handling Oscar himself — but the dog pooped while with him in the show ring. “It was very embarrassing!” recalls the finance guy. “He identifies me with a walk. He identifies handlers with work.”

THE CENTRAL PARK PRINCESS

CHampion Zielonagoras Czama Ksiezna, a k a “Zaralyn”

This vivacious 3-year-old’s name is Polish for “black princess,” and the Polish lowland sheepdog does indeed live like royalty, splitting her time between her family’s Central Park South apartment, where she enjoys taking in the views from a 17th-floor balcony, and a

sprawling home in Ridgewood, NJ, with a 1-acre yard.

“She is a princess, she really is,” says owner Linda Khettry, 62.

The high-maintenance bitch even spends every Friday at the beauty parlor, to keep her shag in shape. When not showing, Zaralyn typically wears a barrette to keep her lustrous locks out of her eyes; when competing, her hair must hang freely, and her signature look is a rakishly charming sidesweep, where her hair is pulled back to reveal just one of her eyes.

While her breed is rare in and of itself, Zaralyn is especially unique because she’s black, not white. “She’s the only one in the country,” claims Khettry, who calls herself a “professional volunteer.”

Zaralyn also has a family connection to Westminster: Her father won Best of Opposite (the award for the best animal of the opposite sex of the Best of Breed winner) and an award of merit three years ago. “Zaralyn hopes to follow in his paw print,” says Khettry.

THE BRONX BADASS

Grand champion Bourbon’s Taboo, a k a “Eva”

Owner Lourdes Fernandez describes her Bronx-born and -raised English setter as “effervescent,” and her handlers have said she “shows like a rock star.” And, as befitting a rock star, Eva is known for occasionally trashing her environs.

“You don’t leave them unsupervised because they do get into trouble,” says Fernandez, 67, referring to Eva and the four other setters she lives with.

“She doesn’t get stuffed animals anymore because she eviscerates them, and she ate her nice new bed,” adds the retired pulmonary technologist.

But her appetite for destruction doesn’t mean Eva is a savage. To keep show-ready, the long-haired dog is bathed at least once a week, diligently brushed and receives regular conditioning treatments and fish-oil supplements.

“We have to treasure every hair that she grows for the show ring,”

explains Fernandez.

THE LONG ISLAND GOOD-TIME GUY

Champion Tara’s Sparkling Wine Spritzer, a k a “Spritzer”

True to his name, Spritzer is a bubbly pooch — the 2 ¹/₂-year-old greets everyone like an old pal, and even kissed a Post photographer.

“He is the happiest boy in the whole world,” says handler Margaret Noble, 44. While he typically lives on Long Island with owner Barbara Grizlo, Spritzer’s been staying with Noble on the Upper West Side to prepare for Westminster.

The Big Apple suits his big personality. Boston terriers are “not shy or reserved dogs,” says Noble. “They take the city by storm.”